Mile 7.9 (12.7km)

The ride begins with a climb into Gatineau Park.  Here is the first few feet of the pathway which parallels the Gatineau Parkway and leads eventually to Pink Lake.

Mile 13.3 (21.5km)

Arrival at the lookout, overlooking Pink Lake.  This the last few feet of a steepish climb that started 1.1km back.

Mile 13.35 (21.6km)

By the time you finish the Pink Lake Climb, you have ascended about 120m and some of it with 8% grades.  The Pink Lake Lookout gives you an opportunity to rest and to enjoy the beauty of Gatineau Park.  (21km/16mi)

Mile 13.3 (21.6km)

By the time you finish the Pink Lake Climb, you have ascended about 120m and some of it with 8% grades.  The Pink Lake Lookout gives you an opportunity to rest and to enjoy the beauty of Gatineau Park. 

There is a footpath around the lake.  (21km/16mi)

Mile 17.2 (27.7km)

After descending from Pink Lake, the Visitor Centre at P3 offers a washroom break and a chance to refill the water bottles.

22.4mi (36km)

Mile 28 (45.2km)

Cafe Mulligan in Aylmer, Quebec.  It serves gourmet coffee and an interesting array of soups and panini.  We always sit outside.

Mile 28.9 (46.5km)

This urn-shaped Japanese fountain, topped by a sinuous dragon that spits a jet of water towards the sky immediately creates an undeniable cultural shock.  The urn, which is from Osaka, Japan, is made of solid bronze and was given to L'Imaginaire Park by the National Capital Commission.

The fountain was ordered, at the beginning of the century, by Lord Strathcona and it was given to the citizens of Ottawa to celebrate the cooperation between Japan and Canada. 

Mile 37 (59.5km)

John Ceprano was born in Providence, Rhode Island, immigrated to Canada in 1978, and given Canadian citizenship in 1991. 

He received an Associate degree in Physics in 1968 from Community College of Rhode Island, and a BFA in Fine Art from the University of Rhode Island in 1975, with final year study abroad at University of Ottawa.

Between 1982 to 1984, he attended Rhode Island College in the Master of Arts program in photography, with the graduate assistantship in art history.  Additional study in non-sliver photography at University of Ottawa between 1985 to 1990.

In 1986 he began the art of rock balance sculpture at Remic Rapids Park in Ottawa, and received a Canada Council Arts grant for the project in 1989.

Since 2000, the National Capital Commission, a federal government agency, has provided an annual contract for the project. 

In 2015, he received the 'Award of Excellence' for urban design in public places from the city of Ottawa, and designated an 'Ottawa Ambassador' from Ottawa Tourism in 2016.  In 2017, the project was included in 'Canada 150'.

Permanent sculptures have been produced since 1999, and his initial discipline in painting has continued to since the 1960's. 

He presently resides in Gatineau, Québec.

38mi (61.1km)

This abandoned railway bridge is known at the Prince of Wales Bridge.  For a long time, the authorities tried to keep people from the bridge, but lately they seem to have given up.  Photographers live a site like this.

Mile 39.2 (63.1km)

This bike counter is the only one of its kind in the city.  It is located on the Ottawa side of the Portage Bridge, which runs between Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.  Canadian government offices on the Quebec side probably account for a lot of bike commuter traffic.

Together, with some passing strangers, I once tried to trick the counter into counting pedestrians.  All to no avail; it only counts bicycles.

Mile 40 (64.4km)

When you ride in Ottawa, come down to the Ottawa River, behind the Museum of History.  Get a great shot with the Parliament Buildings in the background.

Mile 40 (34.6km)

Titled namaxsala, which means to travel in a boat together in the Kwakwala language, this permanent sculpture is located outside in the lower pond beside the Museum of History's Grand Hall. 

The piece is inspired by a story that the artist, Mary Anne Barkhouse, learned from her grandfather, Fred Cook, who helped a wolf cross a treacherous stretch of water in a boat.  namaxsala speaks to Barkhouse’s deep environmental concerns and the need for humankind’s respectful cooperation with the natural world.

Mile 40 (64.5km)

The water taxi departs from the Museum of History toward the Ottawa Locks, which can be seen between the Fairmont Chateau Laurier and Parliament.

Mile 40.5 (65.2km)

Crossing the Ottawa River, southbound, The bik lane, with its yellow center line, is to the left of the walkway.
Parliament can be seen.  The Fairmont Chateau Laurier is directly ahead.  (34km/22mi)

Mile 41.3 (66.5km)

People, particularly young people, love to sit at the edge, about fifteen feet above the water.  At the Ottawa Locks, you will see small craft from all over North America, and tourists from all over the world.

Mile 41.4 (66.6km)

The Fairmont Chateau Laurier.  In addition to being a great spot to stay in Ottawa, the Chateau was the site of Josuf Karsh's office and studio.  It has been the location of CBC Ottawa for many years.

There is a swimming pool in the basement.  My brother and I used to take the bus downtown and pay the $0.10 to swim there.

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The Rideau Locks in downtown Ottawa.  Holiday traffic, locking up from the Ottawa River.

41.6mi (66.9km)

This space, under the main square in Ottawa, and next to the Rideau Canal, has been a popular place for wedding photographers.

Mount the stairs, and you at the Parliament Buildings.  Merely pedal by, and you will hear the bagpipes, as the footguards perform their ceremonial changing of the guard.

Mile 41.6 (67.0km)

Mile 41.9 (67.5km)

The Drill Hall.  This is the staging area for the Governor General's Footguards.  They gather here and march to Parliament Hill for the daily (summertime) Changing of the Guard.

Mile 42.2 (67.9km)

The Love Locks at the Corkstown Footbridge over the Canal.

The Pont des Arts bridge in Paris was threatened by the weight of the love locks there, and they have been removed.  The city engineers in Ottawa have, however, said that the footbridge will bear the weight of the locks quite well.

For a complete gallery, see Love Locks - Corkstown Bridge

Mile 42.5 (68.5km)

The Armenian Embassy.

This building was the Mess Hall and basic meeting facility for the 2416 (Reserve) Air Force Squadron.  As high school student we were in regular attendance there. 

The building has matured into a more dignified use.

42.7mi (68.7km)

43.5mi (70.1km)

The Ritz restaurant has perhaps the lushest setting in Ottawa.  It is on the Rideau Canal, part of Ottawa's tony Glebe district and now next to a brand new footbridge.

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Mile 43.7 (70.3km)

Mile 43.9 (70.6km)

As a gift to celebrate Canada's 150th Anniversary (and also as a nice little advertisement) the Beijing 2019 International Horitcultural Exhibition gave these two to the City of Ottawa.

Named Menya and Menghua, these are the mascots of Beijing Expo 2019. 

Mile 44.24 (71.2km)

This is a late afternoon view of the canal, just past the Bank Street Bridge, before the Bronson Bridge and Dow's Lake.

Mile 44.7 (71.9km)

Our house at 588 The Driveway, where David was born.

Mile 47. (47.7km)

The Culinary Conspiracy, at Hog's Back, strives to give a better experience than your ordinary hamburger stand.  Near the falls, it's a pleasant break.

Mile 47.7 (76.8km)

Devil's Gorge, at Hogsback.

Mile 63.9 (82.9km)

Mile 56 (90.2km)

The residence of the Norwegian Ambassador in Rockcliffe Village

Mile 56.5 (91km)

Lornado is the official residence of the United States Ambassador to Canada, located in the Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood.

The home was built in 1908 by Warren Y.  Soper, an American-born, Ottawa-based industrialist.  Lornado was built on the Soper family cottage property.  In homage to one of his favorite novels, Lorna Doone, Soper named the property "Lornado," a name it has kept to this day.

Mile 56.6 (91.1)

View of Pointe-Gatineau and the Gatineau River from the Lookout in Rockcliffe. 

Mile 60.8 (97.8km)

Stornoway is the official residence of the leader of the opposition.  There is no sign.  There is no special security.  That's Canada.

Rideau Falls - Mile 62.4 (100.5km)

"Rideau" is French for curtain.  When Champlain came up the Ottawa River, the natives showed him that you could walk behind the cascade and look out through it.  Hence the curtain.

Over the three hundred years, the formation has changed somewhat.  To keep it from collapsing, supporting concrete has been added behind the falls, and it's no longer possible to use them as a curtain.

Mile 63.5 (101.5km)

We pass by the Embassy for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  It's an imposing building, but not particularly photogenic. 

This image of the coat-of-arms at the gate, is made more complex because it reflects me, in my biking gear.

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The entrance to the residence of the British High Commissioner is guarded, whimsically, by an empty telephone booth.

The residence, called Earnscliffe, was the home of Canada's first prime minister.  it was bought by the British government in 1930. 

It is designated as a national historic site.

Mile 63.4 (102.1km)

At the National Art Gallery, Maman greets visitors from all over the world.  Maman cost the Art Gallery $3.2 million; making her a controversial acquisition.

I remember making my grandchildren uncomfortable because I told them we were going to visit the world's largest spider.

Maman has 32 white marble eggs in her sac.  One of them is quite visible in the picture.

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Mile 63.9 (102.8km)

Hundreds of cyclists cross the canal by using this lockgate.  It has been built wider to accommodate them.  Even then, many people are very timid about crossing.  And then there are some who would ride their bicycles across if given the slightest motivation.

Mile 64.9 (104.5km)

The path from Parliament Hill to the Western Parkway takes you through a short tunnel under the parkway.  There you will find a display of art by young Indigenous artists.

Mile 66.9 (107.6km)

Mile 66.9 (107.6km)

John Ceprano's Balanced Rock Sculptures have become an Ottawa institution.  The winter ice destroys them and every year they are built anew.  Not rebuilt, because his vision and skill have evolved.

They have become so much a part of the landscape that the NCC has added furniture and provided him signage and storage space.

Mile 77.7 (125km)

Watts Creek Pathway will serve as the buffer.  We will ride this to the eighty mile end.

Other Pathways

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A section of the Sentier des Pionniers, near Boulevard St.  Raymond in Gatineau.

81st Birthday Ride

My 81st Birthday Ride
Left to Right
Mike, Marian, Steve Gronemeyer, Mike Pounder, Cathy Bodnoff, Cheryl Sunman, Donna Pounder, Biff, Ian Seecoff